Song Lin, the chief of the Criminal Investigation Team at the city bureau.
He had disguised himself for investigations multiple times, cracking major and critical cases.
Half a year ago, during a mission, he suddenly lost contact and was later confirmed to have been kidnapped by a suspect.
To pressure the suspect and protect Song Lin's safety, the city bureau held a high-profile press conference, calling on the suspect to release Song Lin.
That day of the press conference, Fang Xiaocao happened to be working part-time at a newspaper office, so her memory of this outstanding police chief was still fresh.
"Do you recognize me?"
Song Lin was startled and asked with confusion.
"Recognize you? Of course, I do!"
"So many people thought you had sacrificed yourself."
Fang Xiaocao nodded her little head and said with a smile.
As she spoke, Fang Xiaocao took out her phone, dialed Wang Qiang's number, and informed him about the basement situation and the news that Song Lin was still alive.
Upon receiving the message, Wang Qiang immediately expressed that he would personally lead a team to rush over and hurriedly hung up the phone.
Hearing this, Song Lin gave a wry smile.
He had been attacked, knocked unconscious, and locked in a basement for half a year.
It was good enough that his superiors hadn't held a memorial service for him.
"Captain Song, was it Qi Yu who locked you up?"
Fang Xiaocao curiously asked.
"It was him..."
Song Lin nodded.
"The sensational case of the serial disappearance of female office workers in Tang City half a year ago, it was his doing," said Song Lin, his face looking grim.
"What!"
Upon hearing Song Lin's words, Fang Xiaocao exclaimed in shock.
"Why were you following Qi Yu?"
Song Lin asked, puzzled.
"Qi Yu has started killing again..."
Fang Xiaocao recounted the murder of her neighbor, her own chase, leaving out the part about Hot Noodles, and told everything to Song Lin.
"Is your neighbor named Chen Hong?"
Song Lin narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice.
"How do you know?"
Fang Xiaocao was taken aback and exclaimed.
"Chen Hong is the only survivor of the serial disappearance of female office workers."
A trace of sorrow flickered in Song Lin's eyes.
"A survivor?"
"There were no survivors in that case, were there?"
"I remember there were reports on the news."
Hearing this, Fang Xiaocao was puzzled and asked.
"That was false news made up to protect Chen Hong," Song Lin said with a wry smile.
"Captain Song, what exactly happened then?"
"Why was Chen Hong able to survive?"
Fang Xiaocao, embodying her curious nature, asked eagerly.
"Ah..."
Song Lin sighed deeply as he recalled the events of that time.
"That day, I was on duty, taking a shortcut back to the station through a small path in the college town's back mountain, when I encountered Qi Yu abducting Chen Hong to a remote area to commit his crime."
"Seeing me in uniform, Qi Yu panicked. He stabbed Chen Hong in the heart, did not stab again, and fled. I was busy saving the person and did not pursue Qi Yu."
"If I had pursued him at that time, perhaps all these following incidents wouldn't have happened," Song Lin said, his expression filled with dejection.
"Captain Song, your choice was not wrong."
"Anyone would have stayed to save the victim," Fang Xiaocao comforted.
"But..."
Fang Xiaocao hesitated for a moment and then asked, "With a stab to the heart, such a serious injury, how did Sister Chen Hong survive?"
"Although I'm not a medical student, I know that if the heart is pierced, there shouldn't be any hope, right?"
After speaking, Fang Xiaocao curiously looked at Song Lin.
"Yes, the most fatal wound."
"But Chen Hong's heart is unusual."
"Her heart is in the middle; Qi Yu's stab didn't hit her heart at all."
"It was precisely because of this that, to protect Chen Hong, we created a smoke grenade of lies, declaring that there were no survivors in this case."
Song Lin, his voice hoarse, spoke in a low tone about how Chen Hong had narrowly escaped death half a year ago.
"But who could have thought that he would be so suspicious?"
"Just because I was investigating him, he guessed that Chen Hong had leaked his physical characteristics."
"After half a year of searching, he found and killed Chen Hong..."
At this point, Song Lin became emotional, and the chains he was shackled with clanked loudly.
Hearing this, Fang Xiaocao fell silent.
So this was why Qi Yu wanted to kill Sister Chen Hong.
Half a year ago, she had barely escaped death, but she never imagined that six months later, she would still meet her fate at the hands of Qi Yu.
Chen Hong truly had a tragic end, unable to escape from Qi Yu, this real-life King Yama.
"Ding-a-ling~"
Just then, Fang Xiaocao's phone rang.
She picked up the phone and saw it was a call from Wang Qiang.
"Captain Song, it must be Officer Wang. I'll go upstairs to meet them."
Fang Xiaocao informed Song Lin, jumped up, and ran upstairs while answering the phone.
"Hello, Officer Wang."
"Wait a moment, I will come up and open the door right away."
Fang Xiaocao hung up the phone and quickly walked out of the basement.
Watching Fang Xiaocao's retreating figure, Song Lin smiled to himself.
"Unperturbed by circumstances, she's a good candidate for the Criminal Investigation Team, it's just a pity she didn't study criminal investigation."
Song Lin muttered.
After speaking, Song Lin was deep in thought.
"Master..."
A familiar voice interrupted Song Lin's thoughts.
Song Lin looked up and saw Wang Qiang running towards him, ignoring the stench of the basement.
Wang Qiang ran to Song Lin's side and hugged him, not caring about the filth on Song Lin's body.
A man of iron, he wept loudly.
"Master..."
"You're safe, that's really wonderful..."
Wang Qiang choked up as he spoke.
He cried like a child seeing his parents.
"Stinky boy, why are you crying?"
"Don't disgrace me."
Song Lin spoke cheerfully.
"Master, who was it..."
"Tell me, and I'll go arrest him..."
Watching Song Lin's disheveled appearance, Wang Qiang, heartbroken, held the chain for Song Lin and sobbed as he spoke.
"He won't get away, I'll catch him personally."
Song Lin said sternly.
"Right, let's catch him together, master and disciple."
Wang Qiang nodded and looked pityingly at the tortured Song Lin.
"How did I teach you?"
"A true man sheds blood, not tears!"
Seeing Wang Qiang with tears in his eyes, Song Lin sternly spoke.
"It's just not yet the most heartbreaking part..."
Wang Qiang quietly added.
"Is that so, dammit?"
"I keep telling you, don't just focus on fighting and killing, read more books."
Song Lin glared at Wang Qiang and scolded him.
"Oh~"
In front of Song Lin, Wang Qiang acted as obedient as a primary school student.
"Now step back and let the firefighters come and unlock these chains, do you want to exhaust me?"
Song Lin yelled irritably.
Wang Qiang instinctively shrank his neck at the shout.
He turned to look at the firefighter carrying tools and gave an embarrassed smile.
"Officer Wang, leave it to us."
The firefighter said with a smile.
"Thank you."
Wang Qiang nodded and stepped aside.
The firefighter nodded in return and began to inspect the chains and how they were attached to Song Lin.
[Ding-dong!]
Just at this moment, Fang Xiaocao's phone rang again.
She looked down and saw a WeChat message.
Without a second thought, she quickly opened it.
[Hot Noodles: Qi Yu is escaping!]